pointed commentary on current affairs in Jamaica and the Caribbean

As Journalism Week 2013 wrapped up, guest speaker at the Press Association of Jamaica’s awards dinner Professor Errol Morrison challenged the press to devote more time and energy to covering science, technology and innovation issues in Jamaica and the Caribbean.

“Without STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) we will be hewers of wood and drawers of water,” he said.

He’s right. We don’t spend enough time looking at research and development, science and technology. The same, I know, has been said of agriculture and climate change, to name just two other examples.

Now these are not always sexy issues. They are probably not going to be leading the newscasts. But there is a lot of room in media for all types of issues, discussions and treatments.

As Observer columnist and University of the West Indies research fellow Claude Robinson said at a PAJ forum earlier in the week, “we are not cheerleaders” but at the same time, he said that we have a duty to tell the whole story of what is happening in our country. I’m not advocating acting as unpaid publicists, but I take Claude’s point that we need to look beyond the surface. There is always scope for critical analysis and close examination of issues in all areas of national life. The challenge for us is to deal with these issues and tell these stories in interesting and creative ways, that will let us keep our viewers, listeners and readers.

So let me take up this challenge. Let me put this on my “To Do” list for 2014. I’m a big list maker. Let’s see if I can, at the end of 2014, tick this item off.

7 thoughts on “Challenge to the Press”

Dionne, there are so many great stories to tell related to STEM. For example, I attended a UTech seminar where I discovered that they are conducting very interesting research in extracting medicinal stuff (nutraceuticals) from plants in Cockpit Country. It was fascinating. I blogged about it. Science is the way of the future and I think we need to get Jamaicans fired up about it!

I’m no longer a great list maker, but I will applaud you for having a list to ‘tell the whole story of what is happening in our country’. It would be interesting to just report on, say, what some of our ‘thinkers’ are doing because I see little of their exposing that to us themselves. For instance, what are the topics of interest and research being considered by UWI Mona economists? I mention that because I see little on a regular basis that tells me that they are addressing deeply economic issues that are relevant to our development. The problem may be that the press do not show or have any interest in what the academics are doing, or the academics are not really trying to let us know what they are doing, or the academics are just beavering away at a range of esoteric topics, many of which may not have much apparent relevance to our development.

Another thing may be to tackle more topics that are part of our ‘popular’ culture that are visible but not really understandable to many of us, as you did with ‘All Angles’ on the topic of skin bleaching. For example, the Gleaner has recently scratched the surface with some of its cameos of vendors (Coronation Market, handcart operators), but a deeper analysis of some of these areas may help us fathom some of our potential for, and obstacles to, certain kinds of economic progress.

Jamaicans are not scientifically minded people. Without getting too technical two known issues point to this. 1. Our lack of comprehension and critical thinking. I am tired of Dionne having to explain to ignorant callers the role of human rights groups. It’s perhaps our pittyful math scores, that prevents us from doing simple associations, ven diagrams really aren’t that hard to master. 2 Our reliance on singular sources or one point of view on varying matters. For moral issues it’s the Bible only, for others it’s what happens in America or Europe so we seek to photocopy it.

Jamaicans are scientifically illiterate and media needs to start changing that. Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson a famous astrophysicist was in Jamaica earlier this year, I don’t recall any media house trying to book him for an interview. Yet, the VW commercial actor was all over tvjs’ smile Jamaica. I Love Tessanne too but why hasn’t tvj tried to get programs like the myth busters on with the same zeal as the voice.

There isn’t any debate among Jamaicans about issues like evolution. We’re pretty much all against it without even understanding what it is.

Dionne as a media juggernaut I challenge you to lead the charge for science literacy in the media. It may not be popular but it’s needed.

Hello Dionne Jackson Miller, Journalist of the Year. Professor Errol Morrison’s sentiments, the ones you posted, are agreeable, however, while I did not hear his speech, the missing piece is HOW any of this will be accomplished. Don’t believe me, but the methods for bridging the massive chasm between desires and reality have been uttered by no one, as far as I am concerned. The raw truth is that Jamaica will never get out of its way until it recognizes how it has shackled and prostrated itself to outside forces and influences through Government. Building Jamaica is going to rely on the relationships between Jamaican individuals and foreign individuals, not the Jamaican Government and foreign Governments.
While looking at what is taking place in Jamaica is very important, know that it will not amount to a hill of beans until Jamaica really understands where it is in the scheme of things, then deciding where it realistically wants to be. Jamaicans also need to recognize that they have a terrible economics problem called “Economists/Analysts”. It is a shame that those “Intellectuals” defend Keynesianism, THE preferred method for relieving countries of their wealth and health. Ask yourself this question, “why is perpetual borrowing and overspending the accepted norm throughout the world and how did it come to be this way?”. To be clear, that includes China, unbeknownst to almost all. An explanation of that requires an understanding of the Shadow Banking System and the Money Markets, along with so much more.
I hope you will be open to and prepared for the information that is coming your way. An open mind is all you need at this table.

I agree with Prof Morrison that there are several ground-breaking STEM projects, et al, taking place locally that are linked to international initiatives…which are showing great prospects. However, the press tends to go for “low hanging fruits,” and don’t step back often enough to “see the forest…and the trees!”

You mentioned a few projects…but, there are many others…which interestingly, can top what is considered to be “sexy issues” and can lead newscasts…because they are “breaking new ground.”

As a list maker, I sure you that if you put STEM on your list for 2014 it will not be something that you will easily tick off…once you dare to go below the surface.

Have a great Holiday Season…and, be prepared to enter 2014 with eyes wide open!
Carmen